Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi

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Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi

2023

1h 33m

Documentary

History

Music

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100%

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9 Reviews

94%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In Omoiyari: a Songfilm by Kishi Bashi, internationally acclaimed composer and songwriter K Ishibashi (professionally know as "Kishi Bashi") embarks on a personal quest by creating his music in locations relevant to the Japanese American Incarceration during WWII. It is on this journey in which Kishi Bashi comes to terms with his own identity, and uncovers a myriad of social issues that have gripping modern relevance. 'Omoiyari' is a genre breaking, artistic exploration that fuses history, music, and the complexities of the human condition.

Codie Allen

Geek Vibes Nation

Jul 25, 2025

8.5

Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi is a mesmerizing journey through time, a symphony of compassion, and a stark reflection of the enduring shadows of racism.

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Chris Akiba

Mediaversity Reviews

Nov 28, 2023

B+

Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi delves into Japanese American history and identity, but at times its discussions on race feel underdeveloped.

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Oct 7, 2023

Captivating, heartfelt and illuminating. A powerful protest against hate.

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Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

Oct 6, 2023

7/10

Maybe the whole proves a bit niche in the end, but its surprisingly robust education on EO 9066 and its aftereffects really ensures that its look at Bashi's life resonates as an example of what it means to be a minority in the US.

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Nora Lee Mandel

Maven's Nest

Sep 30, 2023

8/10

Japanese-American musician Kaoru Ishibashi, known as Kishi Bashi, empathetically explores and tenderly interprets his cultural and ethnic identity through his and his community’s difficult history in beautifully photographed landscapes in U.S. and Japan.

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Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

Jun 4, 2022

4/5

Because the film is about Kishi Bashi and his inspiration for musical composition, the first hurdle an audience must clear is totally subjective: Do you like Kishi Bashi's music? I did and this song film was thoughtful and inspiring.

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Derek D

@RT98622221 Nov 22, 2023

Thoughtful and beautifully filmed, touching not just on the history of Japanese internment, but on the greater question of what it means to be bicultural in America. The visuals are stunning, and the music even better.

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Kishi Bashi

Director

Justin Taylor Smith

Director

Kishi Bashi

Self

J.J. Gerber

Producer

Jim Angelo

Producer

Jenny Mills

Producer

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Synopsis

In Omoiyari: a Songfilm by Kishi Bashi, internationally acclaimed composer and songwriter K Ishibashi (professionally know as "Kishi Bashi") embarks on a personal quest by creating his music in locations relevant to the Japanese American Incarceration during WWII. It is on this journey in which Kishi Bashi comes to terms with his own identity, and uncovers a myriad of social issues that have gripping modern relevance. 'Omoiyari' is a genre breaking, artistic exploration that fuses history, music, and the complexities of the human condition.

Director: Kishi Bashi, Justin Taylor Smith
Producer: J.J. Gerber, Jim Angelo, Jenny Mills
Distributor: MTV Documentary Films
Production Co: Happy Okay Pictures
Genre: Documentary, History, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m

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